Cash boost
for autism
group in
Borders

A LOCAL charity has been awarded £14,000 from the Scottish Autism Development Fund.

The cash will be used by the Borders Asperger and Autism Group Support (BAAGS) to set up and run an employment transition project aimed at encouraging employers to take on people with autism.

Chairman of the local group, Derek Purvis, said the aim was to bring together employers, employment agencies, volunteer bodies, supporting agencies and potential employers to show that the skills and abilities which persons with an autistic condition can bring to the working environment can be positive, helpful and insightful.

He went on: “We would like to encourage all business people – regardless of size of their workforce, type or location of business – to consider employing a person who has autism.”

He revealed that companies will be invited to seminars to network their own businesses and meet with people who can offer support, guidance and suggestions on how valuable an autistic person can be to their company.

Mr Purvis added: “We are encouraging all adults with autism who wish to enter employment to contact us so we can learn their skills, their interests and their ideas which we can share with employers.

“We are also encouraging employment-supporting agencies to come to attend and share how they would be able to offer ongoing support to an autistic person in the workplace if support is required.”